Bedclothes-support



' L. MfDOBBINS.

BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT; APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WW7 u I I a wewtoz Patented Aug. 31,1920. f

L. M. DOBBINSQ BEDCLOTHES SUPPORT; APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1920.

Patented Aug. 31,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 llllll II hu m a INVENTOR I ATTOR EY sired.

UNHTED STATES LAURA M. DOBBINIISVOF ORANGE, new JERSEY.

BEDOLOTHES-SUPPORT.

Application filed March 19, 1920. Serial No. 367,053.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, LAU'RAlVI. DOBBINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedclothes-Supports, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to a bed clothes sup port for use in the sick room, in hospitals and the like.

The invention provides a supporting device for bed clothes, of simple construction, of low cost, and which can be readily folded up flat for carrying or storing away when out of use.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of support in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the support folded flat. Fig. 3 is a section on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. a is a section on line 4et, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view showing how the support of Fig. 1 is secured in place in a bed. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a bed and patient, with the support in place and arranged to support the bedclothes and hold same out of contact with an injured knee. Fig. 8 is a top view of the support folded flat. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a larger support open at the sides, and especially adapted for use in maternity cases. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10, of Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a plan view showing the support of Fig. 9 in use.

The support shown in Figs. 18 and indicated generally by numeral 10, comprises a pair of base members 11, 1.1 and a series of arched hoops 12, arranged parallel to one another, and pivotally connected to the members 11, to swivel therein in any desired way. Such swiveling connection may be made, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, where the hoops are provided with a portion 13 of reduced diameter, which is passed through an opening 14 in the base bar 11, and provided with a head 15, as by riveting over, or in any other equivalent way.

The hoops 12 are connected by flexible members, such as tape 16, extending parallel to the base members 11. Nires or the like may be used instead of tapes, if. de-

The longitudinally extending tapes 16 are shown connected to the end loops, but may also be connected to the intermediate hoops, if desired, though ordinarily this is unnecessary.

Rings 17 are secured in openings 18 in the ends of basemembers 11. These rings form eyes for the attachment of tapes or strings 19, by which the support can be secured in fixed position in the bed, as by being tied to the frame 20 of the bed 21, and injury to the patient, such as may result from the support being readily moved about, is avoided.

With the pivotal connection as described between the supporting hoops and the base members, the device can be readily folded into flat form, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8 with the base members close together, as shown in Fig. 5, and the entire device can be stored away, as in a shallow drawer, or can be easily packed for shipment, or carried under the arm.

In the form shown three hoops 12 are illustrated. This is about the minimum practicable number, but the number may vary from two, upward, to as many as are required. While the device as shown in Figs. 1-8 is relatively small, the supports may be of various sizes and adapted to support the bed clothes out of contact with a single member, as an arm, leg or the like, or larger and longer devices may be used toprotect the body or the entire person of the patient, and in Figs. 911 I have shown a modified form which is larger and is open at the sides and is well adapted for use in maternity cases and the like,

In the form shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the end hoops, or arches 12 are pivoted to the base members 11 as before, but the intermediate hoop, or arch 22 is made shorter, so as to leave the sides of the deviceunobstructed and is pivotally supported in the longitudinally extending bars or wires 23 'at 24, such bars or wires being also pivoted to the end hoops 12. 12 at 25, 26. A center bar 27 extends the entire length of the support and is pivoted to hoops 12, 12 by suitable means, such as pivot pins, or rivets 28, 29, and is also pivoted to the intermediate hoop, or arch, 22 at 30. The longitudinally extending members 23 and 27 are of sufficient strength to support the weight of the center arch and of the bedclothes, but may still be comparatively light and slender. The metal parts are preferably nickel plated, and. the device is neat, simple and sanitary every way.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 31, 155 20. i

It Will be seen that a support in accord and changes may be resorted to Within the scope of my claims without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a bed clothes support, a pair of parallel, relatively movable base members, and a plurality of hoops arranged in parallel planes and having their opposite ends sWiVeled in the respective base members, whereby the support may be folded flat when out of use, with the base members brought close together and one thereof longitudinally displaced With respect to the other.

2. In a bed clothes support, a pair of substantially parallel base members, hoops pivoted thereto in the neighborhood of each end, an intermediate shorter hoop, and lon gitudinally extending members pivoted to each of the hoops, whereby the sides are left substantially unobstructed and the support can be folded fiat When out of use.

In Witness whereof, I have signed my name hereto.

LAURA M. DOBBINS. 

